About our Master's qualifications

Types of qualification

We offer the following postgraduate qualifications, which are awarded on the results of examinations (usually consisting of both written papers and the submission of a dissertation or report) following a course of advanced study.

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Master of Science (MSc)

What is it?

Provides in-depth training in a specialist subject as well as an opportunity to hone your expertise and develop your research and/or technical skills.

Combines taught material with an element of independent research, normally assessed in the form of a substantial dissertation or report.

Career path

Very flexible, providing the foundation for specialisation or diversification into a different sector/industry.

Also often the route onto a graduate programme or into a more specialised role.

Imperial MSc alumni include:

Formula 1 aerodynamicist

Researcher/scientist

Antibiotic pharmacist

Investment banking analyst

Energy sector field engineer

Engineering consultant

Entrepreneur

Master of Research (MRes)

What is it?

A research orientated route which offers greater independence of learning and increased specialisation for those intending to undertake extensive research.

It provides a good foundation for doctoral study or a research career in industry or in the public sector.

Career path

Further research either as a research assistant or PhD student. Many of the courses offered at Imperial are science based and therefore lead to scientific positions.

Imperial MRes alumni include:

Development engineer

Marine conservationist

Biomedical scientist

Research technician

Medical scientist

Master of Public Health (MPH)

What is it?

Combines taught material with a compulsory dissertation and placement as a public health professional.

Includes a specialist stream in Global Health for students who want to understand the health, economic, political, social and bio-medical challenges and innovations associated with poor health worldwide.

Career path

Public health practice and related fields.

Imperial MPH alumni include:

Medical educator

Public health specialist

Environmental health officer

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

What is it?

For people in a demanding job who want to accelerate or change their careers.

Career path

Requires prior three years or more work experience. The Imperial MBA is ideally suited to those with a strong specialised or technical background, now seeking to progress into strategic and leadership roles.

Career path

Progression in an established career in the field.

Imperial MEd alumni include:

Surgical registrar

Consultant anaesthetist

Doctor

Medical researcher

European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System

The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) is an academic credit system for higher education widely used throughout the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). It is a central tool in the Bologna Process, and increases the transparency and understanding of qualifications within the EHEA.

How does ECTS work?

ECTS credits express the volume of learning based on the achievement of defined learning outcomes and their associated workload. The credits you accumulate are transferable, meaning you may be able to use them towards another programme offered by the same institution or by another institution.

The ECTS value of our degrees is displayed on our course pages. The typical credit ranges are 90-120 units for Master's degrees. The ECTS does not apply to doctoral programmes.

Potential changes to our courses

Imperial is currently in the process of revising its taught course and assessment structures with the aim of introducing a standardised modular structure and enhanced degree provision across the College for the 2018–19 academic year. This will include changes to academic and examination regulations for all taught Master's level courses.

As a result, we will be making changes to some of the course content and assessment information set out on our course pagesprior to entry in 2018. We believe these changes will either benefit you or have no impact on you; they are very unlikely to impact you negatively.

We recommend that you check our course pages before finalising your application and after submitting it, as we will publish updated course information on our during the year as and when the new course structures are ratified by College decision-making bodies.

Find out more about the limited circumstances in which we may need to make changes to or in relation to our courses, the type of changes we may make and how we will tell you about changes we have made.